Disclaimer: GL owns Star Wars and everyone in it. We only play in it 'cause it's fun.

Warnings: Rated M for strong sexual situations, language and violence. You have been warned.

AN: Sorry for the big delay! Here is the continuation of this epic story of betrayal and loss, manipulations and deceptions, called Forbidden Longing! We hope you enjoy the latest entry in a story that has become one of our all-time favorites to work on! – PH316

Forbidden Longing

A collab fic by Lilac Moon and PyramidHead316.

Chapter 28 – Point of No Return

The planet before the small starfighter was a smoldering orb of reds and blacks, standing out from the clear atmosphere of its gigantic neighbor like an angry star or moon burning with rage. Vader guided his starfighter into Mustafar's atmosphere with calculated precision. Even from space, the planet looked desolate and foreboding. No sane individual would come to this faraway corner of the galaxy unless they had something they desperately wanted to get rid of.

In short, it was a perfect place for the Separatist leaders to hide.

The harsh winds and burning fumes of Mustafar were thick in the atmosphere as he flew over the lava pits to the nearest compound. This was indeed a true hell on Coruscant, appearing to be nothing short of a wild, chaotic landscape that had somehow survived the initial formation of the universe and never progressed to the point most planets needed to support life. Volcanoes erupted in the distance, releasing endless tons of molten material onto the surface and spewing black smoke fumes into the atmosphere. Vader guided his starfighter onto a nearby landing platform connected to a facility that was no doubt the Separatists' temporary base.

He had been in contact with his Master earlier. The Separatists had been told not to alert Count Dooku to his arrival. They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the man who would replace the Count as their esteemed leader. Concealing his presence as his Master had taught him to do, Vader climbed out of the cockpit with a light jump. The heat of the planet hit him instantly, giving him the sensation of being inside a gigantic furnace. For a Sith Lord however, physical discomfort was merely another trial in a series of obstacles to be overcome.

"Stay with the ship," he told the astromech droid assisting him. He threw his hood over his features and began the long stride across the bridge to the Separatists war room.

Inside the war room, various technicians of the Separatists and droid soldiers stood at their posts as the Council leaders convened over various matters.

The esteemed Count Dooku was observing a tactical analysis when he noticed a small fighter craft entering the atmosphere on a nearby screen.

Immediately he knew who to question over this.

"Viceroy, I was not aware we were receiving any visitors today," the Count said in his rich, elegant voice, turning toward the Neimoidian to his right. The barest hint of threat resided in his voice, alerting Gunray to the seriousness of his demeanor. He wanted an answer for this, and he wanted it now. "I did not authorize anyone to land here," Dooku's aristocratic voice reminded him, standing up from his seat with eyes that demanded an answer as to what was going on here.

"It is merely another agent Lord Sidious has sent to assist us," Viceroy Nute Gunray told him, giving him a smug gesture with his mouth. To his surprise, the Viceroy sounded extremely confident in his declaration. Immediately Dooku realized something was wrong here.

The Viceroy sounded arrogant, confident he knew something Dooku did not. Dooku was about to raise his hand and remind the Viceroy just who was in charge when he felt a shadow of a tremor in the Force. Moments later a shadow made its way into the corridor, followed by a cloaked figure sheathed in darkness, its strides powerful and determined. The Count stared helplessly at Gunray as the stirrings of an incredulous realization took hold.

The figure stopped at the entryway, its face hidden entirely by shadow, save for the chin. From the central war room table, Viceroy Nute Gunray stared arrogantly at the shadow, and Dooku turned to stare at him incredulously.

"Obi-Wan?" the old man uttered in shock. His first thought was that they had been found by the Republic. His second thought was a realization that that thought made no sense considering the circumstances.

"Welcome, Lord Vader. We have been expecting you," Viceroy Gunray said arrogantly, with a satisfied smile that made it apparent to everyone in the room: he knew exactly what was going on here. Dooku had only the barest of moments to realize he had been betrayed, before something happened that jolted all of them.

Surveying the room for a moment, Vader raised a hand and brought down the blast doors to every entrance in the room with a simple sweep of gestures.

The smile on Nute Gunray's face faded as he saw the doors come down around them. Staring at him from his seat, the Count of Serenno felt an instant rage at the imbecilic Neimoidian. "You fool!" he shouted outraged, realizing Gunray's mistake of not clearing their new 'guest' with him would now have deadly consequences. The Viceroy shook from the sheer anger in Dooku's voice, and the reverberations of danger jolted everyone out of their relaxed state.

Vader ignited his lightsaber.

~*~

The nighttime shadows had encompassed the room entirely, rendering it nearly pitch black inside the bedchamber, except for the faint streaks of light that were coming through from outside. There were two individuals inside the room, a pair that had known each other for over twelve years and now shared their lives together in a blessed union. One of them resting comfortably in his sleep beside the woman he loved. The other was as far from that peaceful state as they could be at this moment. Padmé sat on the bed in the darkness, staring straight ahead while she looked at nothing in particular. She was nude under the covers, a result of this evening's earlier activities. She had awoken a considerable while ago and now she found herself unable to return to her rest. She knew the reason why. There was just too much on her mind for her to go back to sleep, no matter how hard she tried.

Padmé stared at her loving husband, lying next to her blissfully asleep. He looked so angelic, so peaceful compared to the daytime. She ran her hand though his hair, bending down to kiss him on the forehead.

"Sleep well, Ani," she told him, whispering into his ear. He needed it; tonight was one of the few nights in the past several weeks in which he hadn't had a nightmare.

She climbed out of bed as quietly as she could, without disturbing him. She knew he would want to comfort her if the situation was reversed and she was the one who couldn't sleep, but this was for her to deal with alone.

She threw on a silky robe over her naked form. She always felt a calming sense of peace after they had been intimate. Her mother and she hadn't ever talked much about relationships, but she had once told her daughter that there was nothing like having the love and companionship of a man present in your life. Padmé knew it was important to have your own life developed before seeking a relationship, but she had to admit, there was something utterly fulfilling in having someone to love and be loved by in return.

She stared out at the front porch of their home. The moonlight shone down on the forested area outside, illuminating it in a beautiful backdrop that served to inspire awe and peacefulness in her. The sound of nighttime creatures chirping outside provided a peaceful ambience that soothed her troubles and weariness

almost effortlessly. She still felt troubled, but it was much bearable than in that room sitting in the darkness.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" a deep sounding voice spoke.

Padmé turned around, and to her amazement, the translucent form of Qui-Gon Jinn glided through the living room.

"Master Qui-Gon?" Padmé gaped in shock. "How is this possible?"

"It takes a great deal of concentration for me to appear to non-Force sensitive person," Qui-Gon said, and indeed, she could see the lines of strains in his face as he struggled to maintain his form.

"I see," she responded, and she turned to stare back at the woods.

Qui-Gon walked to stand next to her, staring out at the nighttime scenery.

"Anakin needs to tell someone about what happened. Obi-Wan cannot be allowed to get away with what he did," Qui-Gon said, without looking at her. The former queen nodded in agreement.

"I know," Padmé sighed, sighing wearily. "But I just can't convince him to do it."

"He's embarrassed. He's ashamed of what happened to him, and how people will perceive him," Qui-Gon spoke. Padmé turned to stare at him.

"Yes, he is. No matter how many times I've tried to tell him it wasn't his fault, he still won't believe me," Padmé said in weary frustration. "How did you know?"

"Because I know Ani. He's a stubborn, hot-headed young man, and he thinks he should be invincible."

Padmé had to nod in agreement. That was Anakin, all right.

"Anakin has to tell someone about what Obi-Wan did to him. It's vital to the

future of the Jedi Order that Obi-Wan is stopped now," he said.

"Do you sense something is about to happen?" Padmé asked.

"No, but Obi-Wan cannot be allowed to run loose in this condition. We cannot have a disturbed individual ready to turn against the Jedi Order at any second," Qui-Gon stated.

"But what can I do? I've tried everything to convince him, to no avail. He's convinced I won't view him as the same man he was before if he admits he needs help on how to deal with this."

"You must find some way to reach him, Padmé. Convince him you won't view him as any less of a man. Enlist your parents' help if possible. Just find some way to settle this situation. The longer he waits, the worse it's going to be when he finally deals with it, and the more time Obi-Wan is going to have to do something unwise, a second time."

"I see," Padmé muttered, moving to stare out the balcony. She was quiet until Qui-Gon heard a soft voice barely above a whisper.

"Master Qui-Gon?" Padmé asked, looking more vulnerable than the late Jedi had ever seen her. "Why did Obi-Wan turn? Why did he become this way?"

She had been angry and hateful towards Obi-Wan up until the point, but now she was beginning to wonder why Obi-Wan had taken the path that he did. How could such a generous and caring man become such a heinous beast with a desire to destroy his own Padawan, the man who loved him like a son?

Qui-Gon sighed. "I don't know, Padmé. I cannot explain why Obi-Wan has become what he has. I don't know the motive or why he would throw away his Jedi morals to pursue this obsession. I can only mourn the young man he once was and miss the boy who was like a son to me."

Padmé bit her lip. "I used to respect him tremendously. I was always acknowledging his wisdom and Anakin was always getting upset that I never saw his point of view. How could he do this? How could he turn against us in this way?"

Qui-Gon's eyes flashed in disbelief. He could not explain why Obi-Wan had become the monster that he had, but this was something that he could correct her on.

"Padmé," Qui-Gon began gently, "how much did Anakin tell you about Obi-Wan's opinion of you? Before this situation, I mean."

Padme's brow furrowed in confusion. "Not much. Just that he didn't want Anakin getting attached to me, but that he didn't really mind a friendship. Why, is it important?"

Qui-Gon felt a stab of hesitation. How to tell her this without completely shattering her belief in her ability to discern other's perspectives?

He decided to just go straight to it.

"Padmé, Obi-Wan never liked you as much as you believed. He believed you were not to be trusted as a politician, and he was always advising Anakin to stay away from you, lest he become attached to you. He believed you were…a danger to his Padawan."

Padmé was stunned. "What? But he respected my political accomplishments and that I was more mature than Anakin."

"Padmé, those were only the words he spoke to your face. Obi-Wan had a disdainful opinion of politicians, and you were no exception."

"He was insulting me behind my back?" Padmé said incredulously.

The specter shifted in his ethereal blue aura. "I wouldn't quite say that, but to get technical, yes," Qui-Gon said uncomfortably.

Padmé shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe this. The truth was so awful it made her sick. Obi-Wan had hated her even then. No, not hated…he had been disdainful of her, wanting to keep her away from his Padawan. He didn't respect her beliefs or her politics, even after all they had been through together on Naboo twelve years ago. And suddenly, the critical thought struck her. Obi-Wan was afraid she was going to take Anakin away from him. He was jealous of her even when she and Anakin were just friends. And when he turned to this twisted way of thinking, his worst fear came true. It was jealousy that had driven Obi-Wan to the path he was now own, even if he hadn't actually turned yet, the way Sith Lords did.

All the years spent defending this man and supporting him to her husband…a man who insulted her behind her back and thought she was little better than pond scum.

And suddenly her rage manifested itself. How dare he pass judgment on her? He didn't know a damn about her aside from what he saw on Naboo and what he read in the Senate files. And a great example he was, becoming a monster who brutalized his own Padawan after accusing her of trying to take Anakin away from him.

"Don't be too harsh on yourself, Padmé," Qui-Gon said to her, guessing her thoughts at that moment. "Obi-Wan presented the guise of a perfect gentleman. You didn't realize how critical he was of you, and Anakin sought to spare you from that experience. What is done is done. All you can do now is move forward.

"What can we do?" Padmé questioned. "How can we convince Anakin to talk to someone like Shaak Ti about what happened?"

"I don't know, but it has to happen soon. I have an uneasy feeling about letting this linger. The more time Anakin lets this fester, the harder it is going to be for him to deal with it. Even if Obi-Wan doesn't attempt to come after you two, the emotional damage to Anakin's psyche may be catastrophic, I fear.

Padmé shuddered. Her husband had been through enough. The last thing he needed was an emotional breakdown, on top of all the things they had already dealt with. And she needed him to stay healthy for the babies. They were going to need their father, not a man who was emotionally closed off and unable to provide them with the affection they required because his soul was in tatters.

"Thank you, Master Qui-Gon," Padmé said, grateful to the Jedi Master for sharing with her what she needed to do." "Your advice will be taken to heart, I promise. I just pray Anakin can see reason this time."

"So do I. But if there is anyone who can get through to Anakin, I'm certain it is you," Qui-Gon said.

Padmé blushed, though a little uncomfortably. She was flattered by the compliment, but she wasn't sure her influence over Anakin was that strong.

"Thank you, Master Qui-Gon. I'm honored you think so highly of me." She paused, contemplating another thought. "Will you be around again?"

"Of course, young one. Whenever you need me, I will always be there to guide you and Anakin, even if you do not realize it."

The specter disappeared into thin air, leaving Padmé alone with her thoughts.

~*~

The Separatist war room was in chaos. Members of the Council were scattering about in all directions, as they were cut down one by one by their new arrival. Dooku struggled to regain his balance after 'Obi-Wan' had launched himself at his form and unleashed a furious wave of attacks that had driven him back. Vader slashed at one of the Separatists, cutting the representative of the Commerce Guild down. Others he smashed against consoles using the Force, electrocuting them and breaking their spines from the impact. Dooku attempted to strike, only to have his blade pushed aside as Vader called upon his anger to grant him inhuman strength. He turned his eye on the Commerce Guild leader, and the trembling woman backed away in fright. "No, please!" Shu Mai pleaded, her bluish grey features alarmed with frightened desperation, only to scream as Vader cut her down with a slash to the chest.

Dooku finally jumped in, attempting once again to end the carnage before there was no one left. He matched Vader's attacks with elegant strikes, using his footwork and evasive maneuvers in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Vader's strikes were like hammers smashing against his blade, fueled by the dark side harnessed through a terrifying rage.

"Obi-Wan, why are you doing this?! What has happened to you?" Dooku shouted, in an attempt to get some clear answers to what was going on. Obi-Wan was out of control, resembling nothing less than Sidious himself in combat. His rage was a frightening exhibit of power, taking everything Dooku had just to keep himself from being bisected alive. Clearly Obi-Wan had turned, but he had had no idea anything out of the ordinary was going on with him, or even sensed anything through the Force.

His opponent raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it obvious, great Count of Serenno? I've improved," Vader said, meeting Dooku's attacks blow for blow. He gave no inch to the other man, keeping him at bay with his ferocious slashes, not giving him even an opportunity to get to him; to find an opening in his defense. Vader paused a moment to gesture with his left hand, sending a male alien smashing against a console and electrocuting him. The Count felt just the slightest bit of shock at seeing the usually reserved General Kenobi brutally murder someone in such a casual manner.

And suddenly the Count lost his second wind. Vader unleashed a furious kick that sent him flying back. The Count fell to the hard floor, struggling to gather his bearings.

Soon Vader cornered another victim. The Viceroy of the Trade Federation cowered before the Sith Lord, trembling for his life.

"Why are you doing thus? Lord Sidious said you would lead us," Nute Gunray pleaded, visibly terrified over the turn events had taken. All trace of arrogance had left him and he was visibly defenseless, sounding like a spoiled child whose parents had told him he couldn't have a wanted toy, Vader reflected privately,

with some amusement.

The Sith had a simple response. "He lied," Vader said to him. And suddenly, he slashed his lightsaber viciously up Gunray's chest, killing the Viceroy instantly. Satisfied, Vader shut down his lightsaber and went in search of another prey.

~*~

In the fierce winds of Mustafar, an old man fled for his life. Count Dooku had made it to his spacecraft, half-crawling painfully on the hard duracrete terrain.

"That won't help you get away if that's what you're planning," Kenobi said from the entrance to the Separatist base. He grinned evilly at the tired count. "I shot at it from the air when I first arrived," he said off-handedly.

A look of horror crossed Dooku's face, and now he noticed the damage to the solar sail of his fighter. Not enough to destroy the craft, but enough to keep it down certainly, unless a repair crew and time were allotted. Dooku had neither.

The Count's face twisted in horror as he realized Kenobi had him. He was trapped, with nowhere to go, facing an enemy who had morphed almost overnight into a man with twice his previous capabilities.

"Fleeing from the battle, are you?" Vader questioned, giving him a mock-chiding look. "That's not very brave of you, Dooku. A true warrior would stick it out until the end, regardless of the outcome." Vader's face twisted into something spiteful and nasty, smiling at the wounded Sith hauling himself up feebly against the fighter craft.

"How long ago was it, that you were brazenly demonstrating your superiority in a lightsaber duel to me? Not so confident now, are you?" he taunted him, taking special delight in humiliating his worst enemy.

Vader ignited his lightsaber and gestured at the Count.

"On your guard, Dooku," Vader commanded, ready for the Count to draw his saber.

Dooku knew Kenobi was challenging him. If he tried to flee anywhere else, the other would simply pursue him. He had no choice but to fight. Wearily resigning himself to his fate, Dooku eased off the solar craft and stepped toward Kenobi. But he was not about to simply throw himself into battle with this man, this…newly appointed "Lord Vader". There was one thing he had to do before he met his death head on.

He had to know. "Kenobi, what did Sidious offer you? What did he give you to make you turn against the Jedi?"

The other smirked. "Oh, nothing. I did this of my own free will," Vader said gleefully.

Dooku wasn't convinced. "Lies don't become you, Obi-Wan. He had to have given you something, something to convince you to swear loyalty to him. What was it?" he demanded, regaining a measure of his old haughtiness.

Vader looked contemplative. "Perhaps, but it is of little matter right now. What matters now is that you are about to meet your end, my old comrade," he said mockingly.

Vader swung his lightsaber in a gesture of challenge. "Face me, Tyranus, and die with some measure of dignity in your last pathetic moments."

Tyranus shifted his mouth into a frown. This was it. There was no escape, no way out of his predicament. But if Kenobi thought he was going to make this easy on him, he was sorely mistaken. He would rather face 10 Sidious's head on than surrender his life without dignity. He felt a bit of the old flame embolden him as he stared down his rival. Oh yes, he was going to answer Kenobi's challenge. He would fight to the very end against this crass imitation of a Sith Lord, until death finally took him from this galaxy.

And if he was fortunate, he would avoid that fate entirely by destroying Kenobi.

~*~

Anakin slowly made his way toward the porch where he knew his angelic wife was waiting. He had awoken to find the left side of their bed empty, with the sheets scattered about in a sloppy fashion. Padmé had gone to the balcony while he was still deep in slumber, and she was now lingering near the terrace instead of going back inside. There was something bothering her, and he had an inkling as to what it was.

He found his angel staring at the forest inside, apparently lost deep in her thoughts. She didn't even sense his approach, surprisingly, which was something that was usually not difficult for her to do.

"Padmé? Are you all right?" Anakin asked her gently, trying not to startle her. Padmé turned at the sound of his voice, and he could see the slight hints of surprise on her delicate face.

"Oh. I'm fine, Ani. What are you doing awake at this hour? I was careful to not make any noise when I left the room," Padmé said, with some slight concern.

"I woke up. I somehow sensed that you weren't with me, and so I decided to look

for you. It wasn't difficult to find you. There are only a few places you normally go when you're troubled" Anakin said. He tried for a smile, trying to inject some humor into the situation.

"Oh. I'm sorry I woke you," Padmé turned back to the forest. "I didn't know you'd sense me leaving."

"Padmé, you don't have to apologize to me for anything. I just knew you were out here somewhere and I decided I wanted to see what you were doing," Anakin said.

"I'm just enjoying the panorama of nature, Ani. Things are just so hurried sometimes, between my teaching classes and us managing the repair shop, I rarely get to appreciate how beautiful this area is, even if it's dark and you can't see anything clearly" Padmé said, smiling quietly. She rather hoped he didn't ask any more questions.

Her husband stared out at the forest scenery. Yes, it was beautiful. But he knew that wasn't what captivated his wife's attention.

"What's wrong?" Anakin asked seriously, looking down at her. "What's bothering you?"

Her lovely brunette head snapped toward him. "Did you read my mind?" Padmé asked him sharply, a little more than she intended.

"No, I just know when something's bothering you. You get this distant look on your face, like you're not really seeing things that are right in front of you, and your mind is off on an entirely different planet," he replied. Anakin looked at her curiously. "Why would you think I would read your mind?"

"Oh. Sorry," Padmé muttered. She was still a little on edge from that conversation earlier, and she was taking it out on Anakin. She didn't even know why – whether it was irritation at him for not asking anyone for help, or annoyance at that snake Obi-Wan and what he had been saying about her behind her back, even before he forced down all this abominable trouble on their heads. "It's nothing. I'm just a little on edge, that's all."

"Then tell me what's bothering you," Anakin said. "I hear the best solution when you're troubled by something is to talk to someone, and share with them what's trouble you."

The former Queen pursed her lips while she regarded that. She wondered if Ani realized the irony of that statement.

"Don't shut me out. Isn't that what you always tell me?" Anakin said, giving a half-smile. Again, she was struck by the irony of Anakin asking someone else to confide in him with their troubles. She wondered bitterly if he would ever see his situation with such clarity.

Padmé stared back at the forest, avoiding the line of inquiry. Anakin was patient while he waited for her to open up to him, not saying a word.

"I spoke with Qui-Gon," she said finally.

Anakin tensed. "Really?"

"Yes. He said he was slightly worried about you; he came to tell some things and make sure that we were really alright on our own," Padmé said, lying a slight amount to cover herself. There was no need for Anakin to know everything yet.

"I see." Anakin paused. He tensed. "And what did he tell you?"

"Only a few things," Padmé shrugged. She turned toward Anakin with curious eyes. "Did Obi-Wan really say those things about me behind my back, like Qui-Gon said – back when you were Master and Padawan?"

"What things?" Anakin asked.

"That I was untrustworthy, that I was a danger to you and your career as a Jedi; did he really think that I was little better than a common politician?" Padmé asked.

"Padmé," Anakin sighed

"Anakin, be honest with me. Did he really think those things about?" Padmé asked him.

"Yes," Anakin said. He saw no point in not giving it to her straight, now that all this had occurred and there was nothing to lose by admitting the truth. He thought she might be upset unnecessarily at what that bastard former Master of his said, but if she wanted him to be truthful, then he couldn't deny her that.

"Why did you lie to me, Anakin?" Padmé asked, the hurt showing in her eyes. "Why did you make me believe he respected me, if all that time he was really criticizing me behind my back?"

"Because I knew how you felt about him, Padmé," Anakin insisted. "You thought he was this incredible Master who was wise and strong beyond his years, and was an incredible role model for me among the Jedi. And he was. But he was a human being, Padmé. He wasn't perfect, and he had his flaws just like anybody else; plenty of them. I didn't want to ruin that for you. I wanted to maintain the illusion of him accepting you, because I knew it would be easier on all of us, if

you weren't at each other's throats; because you were the two people closest to me and I wanted you to get along. As twisted as it sounds now, I wanted you to respect Obi-Wan Kenobi for what he was, not fight with him because he didn't respect you for your accomplishments." Anakin scoffed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "A lot of good that did. I kept you from fighting with him, and he still descended into his hatred of you anyway, regardless of whatever I did," he said bitterly.

"So you thought you had to lie to me, because you had to make me believe Obi-Wan was really what I thought he was as a person?" Padmé asked, sounding slightly hurt as she faced Anakin's explanation for his actions. "Did you think I was going to go off in a rage because I heard some criticism from a person close to me, or what I thought was someone close? Do you really think I'm that fragile, Anakin? I can handle some criticism of my person. I've heard some of the things the other senators have said about me. I've even caught a few from Mon Mothma sometimes, about my personal life and how I naïve I am about the galaxy because of my model upbringing in Theed," Padmé repeated the woman's statement acerbically, still not impressed with that particular moment of thoughtlessness on her colleague's part. "Though I suppose that's changed now that everyone knows we're married," Padmé paused, swallowing down her anger. "I'm not some porcelain doll, Anakin. I'm a human being! Why did you think you have to protect me that way, sheltering me from the truth?" she demanded.

"Because I know how you are, Padmé. You like to believe you always have a grasp on any situation at hand, regardless of what it is; and most of the time, you're right about being aware of all sides. Who was I to ruin that for you?" Anakin asked simply. "You believed Obi-Wan Kenobi was an upstanding individual, and he was. But you didn't hear the things I heard, and you didn't see how blatantly he despised politicians, besides Bail. Obi-Wan wasn't the monster he's become at that time, but he wasn't the angel you thought he was either. He was a person with flaws, like Mace or Yoda, and he thought it really would be better for all of us involved if I never saw you again," Anakin said darkly.

"So you thought you had to lie to me, like I'm a child?" Padmé said, becoming more upset by the minute. It certainly sounded like Anakin thought she was a little child who couldn't have her delusions shattered. She didn't know whether it was the hormones from pregnancy or just the stress of the situation, but she was suddenly feeling like crying and jumping into a hole where no one would see her.

There was a quiet tension present in the room suddenly, both of them emotional almost beyond reason at the moment. One of them had to concede for the fight to end, but neither one was in the mood to do so. It wasn't so much about who was right as it was about trust, and to what extent they were willing to be honest with each other. Finally, the one was who predictably more emotional decided that he needed to be the mature one this time, and let this go before things got too out of hand.

"Why are we arguing about this?" Anakin breathed out frustrated. "That's in the past. We should focus on what's going now, and forget all about what happened then."

"I agree," Padmé said.

Padmé wrapped her arms around herself in her robe. She took a breath to steady herself. She was overreacting. Anakin wasn't looking down on her. He just wanted to protect her, like a good husband would. She certainly did the same for him. Why was it so bad just because he'd told a little white lie to spare her feelings?

Because he should have trusted me to accept the truth.

She shrugged the traitorous thought away. No, Anakin did trust her. And it was clear there was no malice involved in his actions. He wasn't laughing at her, at how ignorant she was to believe Obi-Wan trusted her. Fortunately, he wasn't blaming her for not believing him about Obi-Wan, whenever he complained that his mentor was getting too strict. Moreover, Anakin had suffered through something more horrible than anything she had been through. Any arguing about trust was cast off the moment Obi-Wan put him through what he did, and Anakin came to her confessing his heart wrenching secret, asking her for help.

"Are you okay?" Anakin asked, concerned that he might have upset her. He knew she was in a delicate condition sometimes because of the twins, and he was afraid that revelation on his part might have pushed things too far.

"I'm fine," Padmé said, wiping away a few tears while sniffling. "I just want you to trust me, Anakin. If you know something that pertains to me, you have to tell me so that I know how to deal with it," she pleaded with him, letting him know that she could handle anything, no matter how upsetting it might seem to him.

"I know," Anakin said. He welcomed it as she closed the space between them, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, Padmé," Anakin said, holding her tightly in his arms. "I shouldn't have lied to you."

"It's okay," Padmé said, resting her head against his chest. Anakin had been honest with her, and now it was time for her to be honest with him. Padmé pulled away from him, staring into his clear, cerulean eyes. She knew this had to be put carefully.

"Anakin, Qui-Gon wants you to talk to somebody about your experience," Padmé began, keeping her voice very soft and understanding. "And I think it's a good idea. I know you're reluctant to talk to anyone, and I know there's a danger involved, but I think we should look into this while we have the opportunity, before Obi-Wan harms anybody else. It's not just us who are in danger." Anakin left her go roughly and turned away from her, shocking Padmé with the abrupt gesture. Still, she stayed calm for the moment.

"Padmé, no," Anakin ground out, as if to end the conversation. "We've been through this before. It's over. What he did is the in the past, and that's where I prefer that it stay. I was hoping you would understand me enough to respect that. We're only inviting Obi-Wan to come after us if we go after him in any way, and that's not a risk I'm willing to take. I'm not going to go chasing after any trouble, just to satisfy some vague idea of 'justice' for my sake."

"'Some vague idea of justice?'" Padmé repeated, outraged at that view. "Is that what you think your rights as a living being are worth? Anakin, you are a sentient person like any other in the galaxy, Jedi or not involved in the Jedi! You deserve to have your experience validated against someone who wronged you, and for that person to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And that's not the only worry here. Anakin, I'm concerned about letting this man go without penalty! The longer this man roams free, the more time he's going to have to plan something against us. And what is this going to do to you, the longer you take to deal with this?" Padmé questioned Anakin hard, forcing him to acknowledge the issue. The idea of being soft and understanding had gone out the window the moment Anakin dismissed the idea of claiming justice for himself as some inconsequential idea.

There were few things that bothered Padmé more than letting injustice go unanswered, and it infuriated her that her husband was unwilling to claim justice for himself.

"I'll be fine, Padmé," Anakin bit off acidly, glaring. "You don't have to worry about me 'freaking out' in the middle of a conversation, the way I did at that lunch months ago. I'll be there for the twins in whatever way they need be, if that's what you're wondering about."

"No, it wasn't," Padme responded pointedly, quite angry herself. "I'm not worried about you 'losing your mind', as you seem to believe. I'm worried that the more deeply rooted this becomes, the more it'll continue to haunt you. I'm worried about how this may affect your state of mind, emotionally speaking. I'm worried that you'll keep shutting me out and not opening up to me."

"I'm not having this conversation, Padmé!" Anakin turned away from her, fighting to contain his growing annoyance with her. He wasn't 'angry' with her that

frequently, but she was pushing it with this discussion. Why couldn't she understand that he wanted her to let this go?! It wasn't that hard, was it?

"There are the other concerns to think about, Anakin," Padmé pointed out, once again. "We're not safe here, in spite of being away from the capital. Have you thought about what Obi-Wan has been doing while you're sitting here on Naboo, resisting any opportunity to confide in any person about what happened? The twins are never going to be safe as long as there is a man out there determined to hurt our family, and you're being incredibly naïve if you think otherwise, even for a second!" Padmé couldn't stop the statement from coming out, and she immediately felt a little guilty that she'd resorted to using the twins to make a point to Anakin. But it was definitely a concern.

Oh, that was a low blow.

Anakin stared at her with frosty eyes. "How dare you use the twins to prove a point to me, as if they are a simple tool to use in an argument?" he exclaimed. "I know there is man out there who will go to any lengths to hurt me, including hurting the twins. I also know that I will protect them with my life, if that ends up being necessary. No one is coming near our twins and harming them if I have my say in it, not one individual! I simply don't want you or anyone else to be harmed in the process of me seeking any kind of retribution against Obi-Wan for this! This man is ruthless, Padmé. He may not have turned to the dark side the way Dooku did back when I was with him, but he was very close to it. I don't want him to kill you because I said something about what he did to me in his apartment, and actually tried to bring him to 'justice' though the system, as you say," Anakin bit out, hoping the persistent senator-at-heart got the message this time. There was no way he was going to change his mind about this. Anakin wasn't willing to risk Obi-Wan going after his family, all for the satisfaction of seeing Obi-Wan in chains. The consequences were simply too severe if Obi-Wan was not prosecuted, and left free to roam the Republic at will, going after his old Padawan any time he wished.

The former Jedi and determined former senator glared at one another, neither one quite willing to back down. Finally, Padmé decided to be the mature one. She crossed her arms over her chest, walking slightly away from Anakin. She had to back down, before she truly lost her temper and caused possible harm to her babies. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of that incident a few months back. She wasn't beaten, but she was going to back down for now. Anakin needed to see the fault of his choices, and she was going to enlist her parents' help to accomplish that if she needed to. But for now, it was better to back down and let his calm temperament resume, rather than drive him over the edge.

"I'm sorry," Padmé said, crossing her arms over her chest as she shivered from the morning breeze. It was getting cold out here, a fitting setting for what had transpired between them only a few moments ago. They were finding it easier to argue nowadays, letting their tempers slip over little things, although they never really got angry at each other, in the traditional sense. She supposed part of that was just the proper road of marriage, although she hoped they never got as bad as her parents and some of the arguments they had had when she was growing up. Still, she wasn't going to just give up, letting her husband completely get his way in this matter, if that's what Anakin thought. She hadn't won many battles in the Senate by not knowing when to pick her battles.

Anakin nodded, still not feeling quite calm. "It's okay," he said, forcing himself to try to accept the apology. "I know you're just worried about me," he smiled, attempting to sound considerably calmer than he was feeling. He knew she wasn't trying to intentionally making him angry, but she needed to understand his boundaries, and that this wasn't something he was going to relent on. "But trust me, okay…" he grasped the side of her delicate face, staring into her warm brown eyes. "I'm fine. I'm not going through anything like you and everyone think I am, and I am dealing with this. The training helps me a lot, and I know that doesn't sound possible because you're not a Jedi, but it's true. It helps me to focus and concentrate on what's important. I'm fine, angel," Anakin said, hoping she got it this time. He really didn't want to deal with this tonight.

Padmé nodded silently, not really agreeing with the position he had taken, but knowing she had to remain neutral. She wouldn't continue to push him at this time. Anakin looked back at the forest outside. It was still dark, and they had plenty of time for 'activities' if they wanted it. Oblivious to her beloved's thoughts, observing him warily, Padmé wondered if he would be sleeping more tonight, or if he would train at this hour, despite it being abominably early.

Anakin stared at her with an intrigued look. There was a feeling of restlessness troubling him now, in spite of her accepted apology. He needed to work out some stress, and despite what Padmé obviously thought, he wasn't going to be doing any training at this hour. He wasn't that crazy, thank you very much. A smile slowly spread across his face as he considered the possibilities. He was still a little upset at Padmé, and he knew the perfect way to remedy those irksome thoughts. Despite being in a rather bad mood, there was a desirable woman right in front of him right now. He wasn't going to pass that up. Smirking in a playful way, he cupped the side of Padmé's face gently. "Hey," he began quietly, pretending that he was really at ease, "are you up for some…affection?" he put his question playfully, giving her a mischievous look with his eyes full of mirth.

His wonderful wife inclined her head, rather curious now. "Of course," Padmé said impartially. She was always up for it, possibly because of all the time they had spent apart during the war. Still, she wondered what was up with the sudden request. It was strange, considering they were just in an argument a few moments ago.

Anakin began kissing her along her neck, causing Padmé to go stalk still at first. She gradually loosened up as she enveloped herself in her husband's familiar kisses. Anakin began to deepen the kisses he was planting on her, until he was roughly nipping at the soft, creamy skin on her neck. Padmé sighed softly to herself as Anakin roughly caressed the skin across her neck, leaving little trails of desire across her skin. Anakin moved to her chest, roughly kissing the skin above the center, just below her throat. Padmé responded with little mews of pleasure as she felt her face blushing with arousal. She was aroused so easily nowadays, even when she was angry at him. All it took was a few caresses and some deep, passionate kisses to get her going. Her hormones were raging out of control much of the time, which resulted in a pendulum swing as to how and when she wanted it.

Anakin was delighted to hear the sounds coming out of her due to his ministrations. He was utterly thrilled to know he had this effect on her, no matter what fervent arguing she and him were involved in at any given time. Anakin roughly pulled open her robe, exposing her breast to the open air. He lowered his mouth and sucked roughly on the full mound, grasping his hand around the soft flesh on her left. The feel of the leather glove made her shiver visibly, as he suckled hard on the nipple and sensitive skin of her tit. The other fell out of the robe from Padmé's shaking, and Anakin grabbed it roughly while he suckled hard on her left breast. He paused to give her a chance to catch her breath, and they exchanged a lust-filled glance. And he led her back to the bedroom...

~*~

Sometime later...

Anakin settled down next to Padmé, draping an arm around her sensual body, as they bathed in the afterglow of their coupling. That was the most intense experience they'd had in ages, and he definitely felt more at ease now; calm with himself and the way things were. He stared at the dazed features of his beloved angel, still disoriented from their intense intimacy. He cupped her cheek lovingly, brushing his gloved hand against her skin.

"I love you. You know that, right?" Anakin said, hoping she recognized that his earlier frustration wasn't just to disagree with her, and had no bearing on his feelings for her.

Padmé stared at her husband, who was ever so serious with those clear cerulean eyes. Yes, she knew he loved her, even when they disagreed heavily on some things. She couldn't refrain from acquiescing to his love, however much she wanted to protest that he was doing the wrong thing by keeping his feelings about his ordeal buried deep down inside. "I know," she said, accepting the soft-spoken words. She, too, loved him; she just worried about whether he was making the wrong decision with regards to his mental stability.

Anakin basked in the glow of devotion he felt coming from her. There was no doubt of her love for him in his mind; he just worried that she might perceive the wrong thing from their stubborn arguing about the Obi-Wan subject. Anakin contemplated what had just taken place a moment ago. He had to admit, he had enjoyed dominating someone else in that manner, showing them that he was in charge and he was going to control the nature of their session together. He wondered if that was what Obi-Wan felt like. No – he was nothing like Obi-Wan, Anakin thought, quickly shutting down that line of thought. Obi-Wan was a monster, and he was not at all on the same level of morality with his former student. Anakin loved Padmé, and he would never force himself on her like his old mentor had done. He had given Padmé plenty of opportunity to back out, and she had not given him any words that indicated she wanted him to stop. He had always made it clear to Padmé in the past every time that if she wasn't comfortable with anything he was doing, he would stop. It wasn't the same thing at all. Anakin wasn't a rapist, he was Padmé's husband and soul mate, and it was perfectly all right that he be a little rough with her when they were intimate sometimes, as long as he had actually gotten her consent.

Wasn't it?

The questions settling in his brain made him pause, as he frowned to himself in murky contemplation. Suddenly he wasn't so sure of himself to do the right thing in a scenario like his, where he in Obi-Wan's place and had clearly lost his mind. Anakin went to bed with his troubling thoughts, still holding firmly onto the belief that he was better than Obi-Wan, but not without the doubts that were suggesting other things. He held Padmé at a little bit of a distance from him, not trusting his hands not to do anything inappropriate or touch her in a way she wouldn't appreciate. He threw his arm around her, but he kept that safe bit of space between them. Perhaps it was just the argument of the night earlier tonight, and the event after. Yeah, that was it – he didn't want to smother her with his presence, after such an intense argument and lovemaking. Perhaps it was just the stress of the recent problems, doing unusual things to his mind – making him think in ways he really shouldn't be.

Or perhaps he didn't want to know why he was doing so.

~*~

The two enemy Sith Lords' blades crossed as Dooku struggled to fiercely challenge the enemy he now found himself confronted with. Furious slashes met each other as Dooku parried in the one-handed style of Makashi, while Obi-Wan used two-handed assaults to bring down fury on his hated enemy. The enemy fighters were evenly matched, on first glance, now that Dooku had recovered his concentration, with Dooku using his superior swordsmanship and years of experience to sidestep the younger Sith Lord's attacks and keep Kenobi at bay. Dooku was refusing to acknowledge this man by his 'Sith' title. This man was not a true Sith Lord, by any stretch of the imagination. He was simply an animal that had been set on the Separatist Council by Sidious, and Dooku was not going to allow him to come away from this with an easy victory.

Obi-Wan came at him with furious determination. Dooku used his anger to even the odds, as Sidious had taught him, using his own hardened loathing of Kenobi. He and Skywalker were his greatest enemies; had been so for the entire duration of the war. He couldn't say he wasn't glad for the opportunity to crush him, even if the odds were against him. For now that he had gotten over his initial intimidation, Dooku found himself focusing more and more on destroying Kenobi, using the opportunity to teach this foolish whelp a lesson about who was really in charge. So Sidious sought to replace him? Hah! He would find Tyranus was more than a superior choice over any pitiful recruit from the Jedi Order, who until now had been little more than a deluded, pacifist excuse for a general. He could feel the blood thirst for Kenobi's blood being raised to prominent in his mouth, as

keenly as Kenobi surely wanted his blood on his hands. Oh yes, Dooku was not going to yield without a fight in this confrontation, not to this insolent youngling!

But it soon became apparent Kenobi was the superior fighter. He was young and fit, less than half of Dooku's age, not needing the Force to sustain himself at a superior level the way Dooku did. He was persistent and emboldened, never yielding despite Dooku's furious assault and Dooku's more advanced age and stature as a Sith Lord. This was not the same man who was known as the Negotiator, and it showed. Dooku dug deep inside, calling on all his anger at the Jedi Order, his hatred for Yoda, the resentment he felt for Sidious at being replaced in this moment, and most of all, the massive anger he felt at the Jedi that had allowed the Order to be swayed into corruption, leading him to this very moment.

Dooku unleashed a storm of parries and thrusts, maneuvering his way around Obi-Wan's blade in the elegant motions of Makashi. Obi-Wan began to lose ground, struggling to keep up with his arch-enemy. Dooku pressed the attack ruthlessly. The former Negotiator growled in frustration, and for one single moment, Dooku thought he had the upper hand. But Obi-Wan fought back with an explosion of rage, meeting Dooku's blade with an array of vicious attacks. He battered the Count with savage slashes and swipes, driving him back on the defensive. Dooku struggled to keep up, but his limbs and muscles were tired, and Makashi was no match for such a savage assault. Not when his opponent was so obviously superior in physical prowess. Obi-Wan was young, talented in combat, and in the prime of his life. Obi-Wan had youth on his side, and he was brimming with Force potential. Dooku was an old man, long past the point where he could defeat anyone without breaking a sweat. He wasn't Sidious, with his endless ocean of hatred from which he could call on to give him power, and his strength was failing him. He was weary, broken from the battle and the suffocating heat of Mustafar. There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

The blades of the ex-Jedi and Sith Lord crossed again, as Dooku tried to keep up with the enemy who was so easily confronting him. Kenobi was unmerciful in his assault, raining down with endless strikes and hammering blows upon the Count. Dooku twisted and maneuvered his blade in every conceivable attack, straining against the monster barraging with wave after wave of anger and hatred. The strength of Form II was in conserving your energy and patiently waiting for your opponent to make a mistake, but there was no opportunity to do that here. Kenobi Force pushed the old man hard, and Dooku fell back on the duracrete with a thud. The old man rolled away from his enemy, and he sat up to stare at the man who now hovered meters away, holding the lit lightsaber that he was ready to bring down on his old enemy at any time.

Dooku looked into his successor's eyes, and he knew that his last minutes in the mortal plane were upon him. But he was not going to go out without some dignity. "Obi-Wan, he will never accept you as an equal Sith Lord, so long as he suspects you are plotting against him. He will always be trying to find someone more powerful to replace you. Someone he can control, but whom he will also exploit in ways he cannot do with you. It is the way of the Sith for a Master to plot against his apprentice. Your own presence here has proven that. Mark my words Obi-Wan, your time as his servant is limited!" Dooku spoke, shedding illumination what he knew to be the truth.

Dooku swore silently, the bitter taste of wasted opportunity thick in his mouth. He could see things clearly now. Sidious had never intended for him to be the true apprentice. He had simply been a temporary pawn while he found some better, and when the chance arose for him to find some stronger, he had traded in Dooku without a hint of remorse and ordered his new follower to hunt down all those who could oppose him. He wondered what had happened with their plans for Skywalker – their hope to turn Skywalker to the dark side and join them, but clearly he had failed, if Sidious was resorting to this man as a newfound apprentice. Or perhaps Sidious would use Obi-Wan to turn Skywalker, when Skywalker attempted to rescue his former master from the trouble he was in. Dooku didn't know. What he did know was his time as a galactic embodiment of might and fear was at its end. Darth Tyranus was gone, buried under the fear that had arisen from his ignominious defeat at the hands of this new foe. All that was left was Dooku, alone without any Jedi to aid him. How he wished he could have seen what Sidious was, before they had reached this point…! But it was too late. Far, far too late. There would be no time to make amends. Sidious had replaced him, and now he would die at the hands of the man he had tormented so thoroughly throughout the Clone Wars.

Vader twisted his lip. Brave words, poignant words…but useless from one who was about to die. Whether Sidious was what Dooku said or not was irrelevant. All that mattered was that he was finally going to revenge himself on the man who was responsible for more death and destruction than anyone could possibly imagine. The vengeance was so sweet he could taste it in his mouth. Vader readied his saber to bring down on his hated adversary.

The exhausted Count of Serenno weighed his options. He could sit back and close his eyes, waiting for the inevitable blow. He could try to give some consequential last words, in the hope he could unravel some of Obi-Wan's darkness, and possibly spark the light in the Master again. Or he could take his fate into his hands, making one last stand against this new aggressor, and die with some dignity. The choice was made quickly. There would be no surrendering here, no submitting to this pretender's twisted desires. He would fight to his last breath. He gathered the Force around it, asking it to give him strength, and the courage to face his destiny.

And Dooku gave it one last go.

Dooku used the Force to rise from the duracrete. Launching himself at his enemy, he held his lightsaber with both hands, using the brute strength to equalize some of the advantage Kenobi possessed. Kenobi was taken aback by Dooku's energy, and he quickly moved to keep up with the furious slashes being unleashed by Dooku. He blocked and parried the other sword's maneuvers easily, but Dooku came at him like a man energized by some mysterious source, more than the Force itself. Dooku struck quickly at the newly crowned Sith Lord, barraging him with slashes and swipes deadly in their fury. And once again, the momentum found itself being turned against Kenobi's favor. Dooku's experience certainly had its upside, and he wasn't going to be silenced easily. Kenobi tried to shrug him off, but Dooku kept at his throat with impossible persistence.

Vader growled in frustration, his eyes shining with waves of hatred. He tried confusing the older man with feints and calculated maneuvers, but Dooku didn't fall for it, instead pressing the attack even harder. Vader kicked the aged Count to the ground, but Dooku gathered himself and got right back up to jump into the battle once more. But the odds were against Dooku, and the Count once again found himself losing ground Kenobi, held back by the same weaknesses that had held him back throughout this entire battle.

Kenobi was younger and stronger, if not more powerful due to being immersed in his rage. He fought like an animal, wholly intent on devouring its prey. The placid Master from before was gone, replaced by a formidable killing advantage. In an attempt to hold off the inevitable, he switched from uncalculated strikes to Form IV, hoping to use the offensive power of Atatru to regain some of his momentum.

It was too little, too late. Kenobi battered through his defenses as beautifully as any Master he had ever fought, Darth Sidious included, until at last the inevitable moment arrived. With a horizontal sweep Kenobi effective disarmed his prey, slicing through the Count's trembling wrists, leaving him defenseless against his hunter. It was a complete turnaround of Geonosis. Kenobi was now the hunter who had conquered his enemy, and Dooku was now the one who lay at his mercy. Dooku already knew he would not be so merciful.

"It's over Dooku. I'm sorry to inform you, my Master will not be needing your services any further," Vader said, burning into Dooku's eyes with hatred. "I'm afraid you have simply outlasted your usefulness to Lord Sidious' plans."

Dooku braced himself for the hit. Vader's eyes smoldered with anticipation.

"Goodbye, Lord Tyranus." And then with ruthless initiative, Vader swung his blade down in a horizontal sweep that passed through Dooku's neck, severing the old Count's head from his body. The headless body fell to the floor, and Vader savored the taste of his triumphant victory. He had done it. He had destroyed his greatest enemy, and brought the galaxy one step closer to order while he was at it.

Forget about age being an advantage: Yoda couldn't have done it better be himself.

Vader left to contact Sidious from the command base; the Dark Lord had to be informed of his triumph here, so that he could receive his next orders. He stopped halfway to the Separatist base, and turned back to stare at the corpse of his defeated rival. He stepped forward, approaching the body with a sort of loose confidence, detached from the vicious act he had just committed. The thrill of claiming his victory over Dooku was sweet, but he had greater concerns to worry about than standing here gloating over the corpse of a decrepit old man, so steeped in his delusions he couldn't see the truth about himself. Yet he couldn't stop himself from taking one last shot at the Count, although the old man was already dead. Vader offered the corpse a dark smile that was full of dark satisfaction. "Do not worry, though. Our Master's vision of a grand new order will be realized without your help, Lord Tyranus, with me at his side." He hoped the old man could somehow hear him, from beyond the grave.

Vader turned back to head to the command center. He would have the service droids pick up Dooku's corpse and throw the body like the garbage he was into the lava streams of Mustafar. Ironically, it was similar to how the Jedi were disposed of, in a consuming burst of fire. There would be no Jedi ceremony for Dooku, however. He would be thrown without dignity into the fire of Mustafar and his deeds would forgotten by the galaxy, never to be recalled again by anyone. Sidious was pleased when he told him how he had brutally over the old Sith Lord, destroying him in their duel, as he addressed the shimmering hologram in the command room. "Excellently done, Lord Vader," the Sith Master said, with a grin that reflected grave hints of satisfaction. "Dooku was danger to everyone, us included. We would have had to deal with him eventually, to secure peace for the galaxy. Now you have saved us the trouble of having to deal with unforeseen consequences, had we left him to his own devices for too long." Vader could sense the satisfaction his Master felt him at him having eliminated his previous. "Thank you, my Master," Kenobi bowed his head, grateful for the approval of his Master and benefactor. Somehow, it felt more natural serving the Sith Lord than it had ever felt serving the Jedi Council. He had no need to unleash some of that trademark Kenobi wit, the one that he had sometimes been unable to restrain even when he conversed with the Masters he respected so tremendously in the Jedi Order, at the time.

Vader had been told the Sith Lords were monstrous beasts, who would enslave and pillage everything in their path. Sidious wasn't like that, however. He was cool and calculated, planning out strategies in a rational mindset, as opposed to going on rage alone. His anger gave him strength, but he didn't let it override his good judgment. And he didn't hesitate to do what had to be done, unlike Yoda and Mace Windu. He was a true agent of order, and Vader already knew he would restore order to the Republic.

Strange, considering he had never really minded serving the Jedi. He wasn't like a certain chosen one, always fighting with the Council to justify his own desires. But it was different with Sidious. He didn't feel any of the doubts he had about the war, wondering whether he was really doing any good to solve the Republic's problems. Sidious gave him a sense of purpose; made him feel like he was fighting for more than a decaying Republic – perpetuated by corrupt politicians who cared more about their own interests than those of the galaxy. He was fighting for peace and order – and those two things would never be achieved as long as the incompetent Jedi were directing this war.

"Return to Coruscant, Lord Vader. The time has come for us to carry out our plans against the Jedi," Sidious said. Vader concealed a look of surprise. So soon? He'd expected it would be a few more months before they moved against the Jedi.

Vader bowed in submission. "Understood, my Master," he acquiesced.

The hologram faded out. Vader stood there in silence. He was left with feeling of morose contemplation, as he thought about what the Dark Lord had ordered. He wasn't expecting to test his strength against his old comrades again so soon, but

there was no choice in the matter. Not that he would ever dare think of disobeying Sidious. He knew it was important that they begin their imperative work of removing the Jedi from the position of power they had entrenched themselves in. The Republic would not survive as long as the Jedi were impassionate in turning a blind eye to flaws. No, the Jedi had to be discarded.

He sent a command to the droid commanders around the galaxy as instructed by Sidious, to shut down all the droid troops that were active through the galaxy. By the time the Trade Federation council members realized what was happening, it would be too late. There would be no stopping the damage that Sidious had dealt to them, as the Separatists found themselves defenseless against the clone armies of the Republic. Vader wished he could be there to witness the horror in their eyes, when they realized what was happening, but he had more important work to do. The execution of the traitors could wait.

He didn't activate the self-destruct mechanism. There was a chance this base would come in handy in the future, and the planet was so remote that the chances that someone would stumble onto this little massacre were close to nil. And if by some chance someone did stumble onto it, it would look like the Separatist Council had simply been taken down by a regular Republic military unit, or that a fight. Or perhaps, that the Count had betrayed the Separatist leaders and killed them all in a massive grab for power, before the Republic forces had taken him down. True to his nature, Vader had already considered every possibility, and none of them were damning to their plans.

Vader walked towards his starfighter, contemplating how he was going to engage his enemies once he landed on Coruscant. He had to trust that Sidious knew what he was doing; still, Vader wondered what exactly his Master had planned for them. He took one last look back at the world where he had exacted his bloody revenge, killing his old foe and crippling the Separatist leadership to the point where they would now no longer be able to recover. The droids were moving now to throw Dooku's body into the lava stream below, and all evidence of the once great Darth Tyranus would soon be destroyed. Justice had been served here, and it would be served again soon in a more drastic way, once the main obstacles to real order in the galaxy were eliminated. Vader smirked to himself, as he was filled with dark satisfaction. Their work was only beginning, and there were still many things to be done before the galaxy knew real peace, but they had already won an important victory here by the destroying the tyrant concealing himself here and his cronies.

Powering up his starfighter, Vader lifted off into the atmosphere to pursue his fate. The fate of the galaxy was in Lord Sidious' hands, and Vader would not disappoint his Master in carrying out his orders, to ensure his vision became a reality.

~*~

The Council members were in the middle of a debate when he felt it: a singular disturbance that signaled something he had both expected and dreaded since the beginning of the Clone Wars. Yoda opened his eyes from his momentary meditation, and he was disturbed to find that none of the Council members had even sensed the disturbance, instead being heavily engaged in their own matters.

The Council members noticed his dour countenance and turned to look at him.

"What is it?" Mace Windu asked in concern.

The aged Master's reply was short and concise.

"Dead my old Padawan is," Yoda said gravely. The Council members drew back in shock.

"Count Dooku?" Mace uttered with a gasp, clearly unable to believe what he had just heard. "How?" he managed, with an audible tremor in his voice.

No one was prepared for what the old Master said next.

"Turned to the dark side, Obi-Wan has," Yoda said gravely. A round of shock went through the Council members, as they gaped at the ancient Jedi Master.

"What?" Adi Gallia murmured.

"That's impossible! Obi-Wan would never turn!" Mace Windu exclaimed, standing up from his seat in a burst of anger. The other Council members were too stunned to comment, sitting in their seats in a visible state of disbelief.

"Turned he has," Yoda said, a great sorrow written plainly on his features. "No one else could have killed Dooku. Sensed it through the Force, I have," he told them.

"How do we know it wasn't Sidious?" Master Agen Kolar retorted sharply. It was clear to everybody in the room that he was having serious trouble accepting this. "The Dark Lord and he could have had a disagreement, and exchanged blows," he said, offering an alternate possibility.

The response he got was acerbic. "No! No, not his work," Yoda insisted, tapping

his cane on the floor; it was clear he wanted everyone to listen to what he was saying. "Kill his own apprentice, Sidious would not," he said, this time with an edge to his voice.

Mace Windu collapsed back in his chair, rubbing his hands over his face in disbelief. "I can't believe this…"

No one said anything for several moments. Shaak Ti stared at Yoda from her seat with an unreadable expression.

Yoda stared down at the chamber floor in deep contemplation. He had raised Obi-Wan Kenobi from childhood, along with many other Jedi. Like with many other Jedi, Yoda watched over him as a youngling, observing with pride as he grew into a strong Jedi Knight. The thought that this man, the Jedi who had served them so well, was secretly responsible for the murder of a child, was something Yoda didn't want to contemplate. But it was true, and no amount of wishing otherwise would change it. The question rang in his mind: how? How could Obi-Wan be responsible for such an abominable act?

Finally, someone spoke. "Why did you keep this from us?" Agen Kolar spoke, with a definite accusatory tone. "Clearly this has been going on for a while and you hid it from us. Why? Why wouldn't you tell us if he was in trouble? We could have helped him!"

"Would you have believed me if I told you, Master Kolar?" Yoda asked, deftly dodging the issue. He was uncomfortable with this line of questioning. There was a sense of bitterness in the Force, and Yoda settled his eyes on Shaak Ti. He knew that was the same exact response he had had when she brought up the possibility of Obi-Wan losing control. He hadn't believed her, and it took a great deal of convincing to get him to search through the recesses of the Force for answers to the Scout situation. The Force was not without its irony.

"How? How could this have happened?" Adi Gallia said softly. "How could he have turned under our very eyes? I can't believe it."

"What's happening to the Jedi Order?" Agen Kolar lamented. "First our Chosen One leaves us and now our best Master turns to the dark side! What the hell is going on in this planet?" he shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Several of the Masters stared warily from their seats, but nobody had the will to reprimand him. They could understand his frustration with this inconceivable turn of events.

"Dark times are ahead for the Jedi Order," Even Piell remarked warningly from his chair, almost appearing to withdraw into his dark robe. Plo Koon, the Master next to him, had nothing to say.

The masked Jedi Councilor was not alone. Virtually everyone in the room had worked closely with Master Kenobi at some point during the war. To imagine that he had now turned to the dark side, completely abandoning all his teachings in favor of following his own anger and lust for power, was too disturbing to appropriately express in a few words.

"We have to go after him," Agen Kolar said.

"But we have no idea where he is," Kit Fisto put in.

"I can have the Jedi in the Mid and Outer Rims try to track his location," Adi Gallia said, adding to the growing course of action.

"Go after him we will not. Let him come to us, we will," Yoda said, effectively silencing the commotion that was growing in the final chamber.

The Council grew silent. Nobody knew that to say, now that their one and only possibility of distraction had been shot down. The lingering question on their minds was how. How could this have happened under their very watch? The potential answers were disturbing, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Jedi they weren't sure they wanted to answer.

Finally, someone meekly asked the question that was on their minds. "How do we know Obi-Wan will come to is?" Agen Kolar asked.

"Come back to us, he will. Unfinished business Obi-Wan has on Coruscant. Chaotic and disturbed his presence is. Sense it I do through the Force. Come back to confront us, he will."

The Council members shuddered. No one wanted to imagine what that confrontation would be like. They would be charged with arresting one of their own; one who had been one of the greatest knights the Order had recently seen. It would be trying ordeal emotionally for anyone who was involved, that much was certain.

No one knew what else could be said at that moment. They were all still in shock at what had developed in the middle of this seemingly routine Council meeting. In her seat among the elites of the Order, Shaak Ti brooded silently with a dark, smoldering expression.

There would be no peace of mind for those assembled in the Council chamber tonight, and not for a very long time.